I'm planning a ten day trip to the Mosel river area and would like to hear your suggestions. I'll be travelling alone, at the end of September/beginning of October. I'm thinking of making Cochem my homebase and exploring from there. Any recommendations on a good, inexpensive place to stay? I have a pretty good grasp of the language, and part of the reason for this trip is to expand on that, so I'd prefer non-English speaking hosts. (well, maybe they should speak a little English!) Also, would you recommend that I make reservations in advance, or will it be easy to find a place when I arrive? Also, is the hike to Burg Eltz feasible for a single woman who's used to walking only on city streets? Last, but not least, any tips on getting to Cochem from Frankfurt airport? Thank you all!

Cochem is an excellent choice. Use this site for schedules:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You can stay with the people I always stay with - Herr and Frau Mattes at Löhrstrasse 34 - phone 02671/5448. They speak only a little English, but they're terrific folks. The room comes with an additional living room and balcony. They charge 40 Euros double - probably much less for a single. The place is 3 blocks from the main square on a narrow cobbled street - very quite, and just a short uphill walk from there to Reichsburg Castle (catch the birds of prey show there.) If the Matteses are full, try Frau Hilken, two doors down at Löhrstrasse 21 - small rooms, but great breakfast and crispy sheets.

Burg Eltz is a pretty easy walk from Moselkern, but long (45-60 min.) My 75-year-old in-laws had no trouble.

I love the Mosel. Wanna take me?
Russ

Russ, I'd be delighted! You seem to have a great amount of info on the Mosel - please tell me more! Should I call ahead, or do you think I should take a chance when I get there? What is Moselkern? The birds of prey show sounds great! Any other recommendations?

Hi Grin. You may find something of interest in either of these recent articles...

August 10, 2003 "Meandering the Mosel"

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsourc...ortex/display?
slug=mosel10&date=20030810&query=mosel

August 10, 2003 "If you go to the Mosel River Valley"

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsourc...ortex/display?
slug=moselbg10&date=20030810&query=mosel

Thank you, capo! I was in Beilstein a couple of years ago and it was one of the villages which made me need to go back! Unfortunately, I think one needs a car to get there. Have you been? Is there a bus that may get there from Cochem?

Nein. The only place I've been on the Mosel is Trier, and the only reason I went there was to visit a German woman who I'd met at a B&B (run the the delightful Mrs. Stonehouse...RIP, probably) in Edinburgh on my first trip to Europe. I knew nothing about Trier before I arrived and was very surprised at the Roman history.

Hotel Germania - located right on the river in the heart of town. Very nice, modern reasonably priced rooms. Stumbled on it by accident after rejecting the hotel we had reserved and heading out on a search for an alternative. Information below - don't know if they have a website.
Hotel Germania
Moselpromenade 1
56812 Cochem
Tel.: 02671 9775-0
Fax.: 02671

Also - Burg Eltz hike is not bad.

Grin: "Should I call ahead, or do you think I should take a chance when I get there?"

If you know your dates, I would call ahead just in case - September is a big month for wine festivals in the area and a popular time.

Grin: "Is there a bus that may get there (Beilstein) from Cochem?"

Yes - I don't know the schedule, but Cochem is the bus hub for the area's smaller towns. They leave from the square at the tourist office, right next to the downtown bridge. However, there are also several boats per day from Cochem to Beilstein - about an hour each way.

Grin: "Any other recommendations?"

In Cochem - you might enjoy the chairlift ride to the Pinnerkreuz, a peak above the town. Il Castello and La Baia are two good Italian restaurants in town that we enjoyed. The castle tour is good, but not nearly as impressive as Burg Eltz.

Out of town: Take a train to Bullay (wonderful river views between tunnels along the way), ferry over to Alf, and hike from there up to the "Marienburg" for a view of the Mosel you'll not forget (nice cafe there up top.) You can also get a bike in Bullay (they may rent bikes at the station there?) or Alf (Nicolai bike shop in Alf) for a ride along the paved riverside path to Zell, Punderich, or beyond - really nice. Daytrip by train to Trier and Traben-Trarbach. Bernkastel is great too - maybe the best old half-timbered town on the river; train to Wittlich, then connecting bus to Bernkastel, or by boat from Traben-Trarbach (If you enjoy a good hike, it's only 5 km from Traben-Trarbach to Bernkastel on foot - beautiful path through the woods, but get a small-scale map.)

Russ





Grin: "What is Moselkern?"

It's a little town with a train stop - the best spot to hike from to get to Burg Eltz if moving around by train.